Our Story

My name is Diane Daniels and I’m the founder of Weight Loss Nation

I started Weight Loss Nation out of necessity!

A lifetime of using food for comfort in between diets – I’ve tried every diet program out there – had left me eighty pounds overweight, and too tired to truly enjoy life. I needed to do something, but none of the programs I had tried had worked.

I needed something new.

And so I created it. And it worked!

This is me before…

…and this is me eight months later.

Let me tell you how it all came about:

I have struggled with my weight for most of my life. I know my story will sound very familiar to many of you. I came from a loving family that loved to eat. The family ate together, and the food was home-made and delicious. Food accompanied every occasion, good or bad. We used food to celebrate, to reward, to console and for comfort.

Food was very comforting to me. Through the difficulties of my parents’ divorce and subsequent life with a loving but working mom, I turned to food. Since I didn’t understand how to deal with my emotions, I used food to console me with all kinds of emotions. Why? Because it felt good.

Then, a busy life as a hard working adult came to include eating out, eating large portions and eating a lot of processed and packaged foods. I continued to use food, to comfort my emotions.

It seemed like all of a sudden, during my twenties, I had gained eighty pounds, I was always tired and I found it difficult to focus. Life is stressful! I started yo-yo dieting. My 6 y.o. nephew died in a tragic accident. I went through an unbearable breakup, and I lost my job. Food is what I turned to in times of sadness, frustration, anxiety, fear and being depressed. That is how I dealt with my emotions. So, that is exactly what I did. I ate food that was comforting to me. I ate macaroni and cheese. I ate spaghetti and meatballs. I ate my favorite food – PIZZA, several times a week. And when I was feeling depressed, (which was quite often), I ate ice cream.

I spent the next thirty years trying every diet out there. – Weight Watchers (3 times), Jenny Craig, Nutri-System, the Zone diet, the Paleo diet; and several others. Many of them worked in the short term, and I felt wonderful afterwards. But the weight always came back, because those programs don’t teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle for the rest of your life.

I’m currently in my fifties, and lucky that I’m in good health. I am a Medicare Advisor. Most of my clients have two or more chronic illnesses – asthma, hypertension, diabetes, etc. – some of them younger than I am! I don’t want to end up like that. I can’t avoid the reality that NOW is the time to take preventative measures.

So I asked myself: What is missing? Why can’t I keep weight off when I lose it? What would it take for me to change my habits and lead a healthy lifestyle for the rest of my life?

I sat down and started writing. I wrote down things “I needed to do,” in order to first – lose weight, and most importantly, how to keep it off. I finished my “vision board,” and when I stood back and looked at it, I said, “Wow!” That’s a real solution to a very real problem!

Weight Loss Nation was born!

I partnered with other professionals, who shared my vision, and the rest is history!

Other weight loss programs do offer some support but it wasn’t always available when I needed it. I wanted guidance, mentors, coaches, and accountability partners to motivate me and keep me on track. When I needed them.

Belonging to a community of like-minded people on the same journey increases your chance of success immensely. We offer online meetings in a private Facebook group, telephone support, e-mail support, and daily motivational text messages.

I designed this program to provide as much support as you need, when you need it.

Founder Diane Daniels explains the support component of the program.

Real food

Easy, not complicated.

We were made to eat real food that grows from the ground and from trees. Eat animals that roam the earth, fly in the sky, or swim in the ocean. We shouldn’t be eating powdered shakes, swallowing pills to “suppress” our appetite, or eating processed & packaged things from a factory.

I’m not a cook. So I needed simple recipes and clear instructions to help me make my own healthy food at home. So that I can eat real food every day.

I designed this program to make healthy eating simple and delicious.

Diane explains how to fuel our bodies for weight loss.

Movement

Our bodies weren’t made for an inactive life – they were made to move! Unlike our ancient ancestors, abundant movement is no longer built-in to our lifestyle. We have to consciously add it.

I hate running. I don’t know how to swim. I didn’t know what Pilates was and I thought only skinny, young women did yoga.

I wanted to open my mind to all modalities in movement. I wanted to try different things to see if I liked them. If I like something, I’ll do it – routinely! I’m certain many of you feel the same way.

That’s why we present a variety of movement modalities to introduce you to different types of exercise. I want to help you enjoy movement and exercise so that you will find something you can stick with!

I designed this program to help you choose a movement program that you will stick witth because you actually enjoy it!.

Listen to Diane explain the importance of movement in supporting wellness.

Mindset training

Knowing what to eat or how to exercise doesn’t’ necessarily mean we will do it. The habits we have developed over a lifetime are strongly ingrained and are tightly tied to our emotions.

In addition, life has a way of throwing us curve balls that throw us off balance, and often our automatic reaction is to fall back into old comfortable, familiar habits, even if we know they’re not good for us.

“Mindset” is the way we think. We need to learn new ways of thinking to support our new physical habits. So that our new healthy habits will become automatic, no matter what life throws at us.

I designed this program to include mental and emotional support and training to make your new habits last a lifetime.

Find out why mindset is so important.

Flexibility

A program that can be tailored to each individual.

I love walking, and I hate running. I like lifting weights, but I’m not fond of the gym atmosphere. I travel a lot. I work hard. I love socializing with people. I need a program that will accommodate my preferences and address my weaknesses.

Your needs aren’t the same as mine. Maybe you have food sensitivites. Or a physical conditon which limits your exercise options. Others may have strong emotional issues tied to eating/exercising. You need a program that addresses your specific needs.

I designed this program so that it can be tailored to the needs of each individual member.

In this video, Diane describes how the plan can be tailored for each individual member.

Education

Before you make a change, you need to know what change to make. It’s also important to know why the change matters. Understanding why can boost your motivation to stick with the program and make it permanent.

We use our weekly meetings, podcasts, and blog to teach you what works, and why it works.

I designed this program educate you so you can take charge of your health.

Diane explains the education component of the program.

Our team of experts is ready to help.

Join me as we move step by step into a healthy, energy-filled lifestyle that we will sustain for the rest of our lives.